NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Bozeman, Montana; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C. 

NRDC is seeking an Associate Director & Staff Attorney to work with the Environment, Equity & Justice Center team in our New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Santa Monica, or San Francisco office. 

POSITION SUMMARY

This Associate Director & Staff Attorney will work in close collaboration with members of NRDC’s Programs and Departments to advance community-led campaigns and environmental justice. The ideal candidate is flexible, thrives in collaborative environments, embraces solving complex and nuanced problems, and is a strategic thinker with excellent communications and interpersonal skills. They will represent NRDC and the Environment, Equity and Justice Center in internal and external forums.

To apply for this position please include a resume, cover letter, and pre-existing legal writing sample that reflects your own work.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions:

• Lead the development of cross-disciplinary community-led campaigns with staff in the Center and across the organization to advance community-driven solutions and priorities of our EJ and community partners.
• Provide in-depth subject matter expertise in community lawyering and advise on a wide range of legal, environmental justice, social justice, and movement building issues.
• Integrating community lawyering strategies and community-led advocacy into the Center’s core functions and vision, and NRDC more broadly in furtherance of the organization’s commitment to equity and justice.
• Collaborate with staff across the organization to strengthen NRDC’s operational capacities to advance EJ campaigns and to integrate community-driven strategies in their advocacy by advising on substance and approach.
• Develop strong and collaborative relationships with EJ leaders and represent NRDC in external coalitions and partnerships to inform and improve institutional relationships with EJ communities.
• Develop cases and advocate in administrative and legislative processes, including but not limited to conducting factual, legal and policy research, drafting comment letters, drafting briefs and other pleadings, and advocating on bills, ordinances, and regulations.
• Manage full-time staff, consultants, fellows, interns, and work closely with the Center staff to ensure that the Center’s priorities and activities are integrated and mutually supporting.

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.

Education & Experience: 

• Juris Doctor degree
• Member of the Bar in the state where the position is located
• In-depth project management, legal and policy advocacy skills with a minimum of 6 years of experience in environmental or social justice lawyering, and at least 4 years of experience working in EJ coalitions to provide legal and policy support.
• And/or equivalent education or experience
  
  

Skills, Abilities, Competencies

• In-depth knowledge of environmental and civil rights laws and policies, EJ principles, and community-lawyering.
• Forward-looking, and strategic thinker with strong interpersonal and active listening skills.
• Team player with a proven ability to develop cross-disciplinary strategies to advance EJ campaign priorities and collaborate in a complex/matrixed organizational structure.
• Exceptional research, writing, communication, organization, and analytical skills.
• Experience and demonstrated success working in diverse coalitions and in partnership with community groups, particularly BIPOC-led groups, with a proven ability to forge common ground.
• Experience with public speaking on technical and non-technical topics, with an ability to communicate with a wide variety of audiences, including on EJ principles and approach.
• Demonstrated commitment to incorporating and growing the use of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion principles in NRDC’s work.
• Ability to contribute effectively as a member of a team and collaborate across a large non-profit organization.
• Demonstrated leadership experience and ability to forge strong working relationships as a people manager.
• Strict adherence to confidentiality requirements and discretion with sensitive information.
• Competence with and commitment to diversity and inclusion; ability to be an effective partner with diverse colleagues, leaders and partners.
• Ability to occasionally travel to NRDC U.S. based offices, approximately 10% annually.
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles.

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position, the salary range is $125,000 to $137,500.  

Our offices are open and we are operating in a hybrid model. We offer NRDCers flexibility, and we ask them to come into the office and spend meaningful time there in collaboration with their colleagues. We call this purposeful presence. 

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws. 

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs. 

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422. 

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.